Method of and means for winding



March 19, 1957 J. P. GALLAGHER 7 METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR WINDING Filed March 1'7, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4. o I 8 H I 1p] 7 9 1 3 -FIGJ 4 INVENTOR gmw March 1957 J. P. GALLAGHER ,78 ,867

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR WINDING Filed March 17, 1954 4 Shee ts-Sheet 2 .1. P. GALLAGHER 2,785,867

March 19, 1957 I METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR WINDING 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 17, 1954 IN VENTOR March 19, 1957 J. P. GALLAGHER METHOD OF" AND MEANS FOR WINDINGY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 17, 1954 FIG.

INVENTOR United States Patent C F METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR WINDING John P. Gallagher, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 17, 1954, Serial No. 416,795

11 Claims. (Cl. 242-18) The present invention relates to an automatic machine for winding thread, cord, wire or similar material on a spool, bobbin or core, and more particularly such a machine especially for use with a spool of the character represented in Figures and 6 of U. S. Patent No. 2,648,472.

An object of the invention is to provide a fully automatic machine of the foregoing character capable of completely winding thread or similar material on a spool, including automatically starting the first end of the thread on the spool.

Another object is to provide a fully automatic machine that can accurately and with great rapidity wrap thread or similar material on a spool having radially disposed end flanges.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic winding machine that requires a minimum amount of attention thereby allowing a single operator to care for a battery of such machines.

A still further object is to provide a universal autornatic winding machine that may handle various sizes of spools, bobbins, or cores; diameters of material, as well as winding various predetermined lengths of material with only minor adjustments being required on the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an isometric view of a spool of the character referred to above, inserted upon a winding spindle with the material gathering arm extended.

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the machine showing the major elements.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the material gathering, winding, traverse and cutting elements.

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the extended end portion of the traverse arm taken on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a superimposed view of the timing action consisting of a Geneva movement and timing cams for the gathering, winding, traverse and cutting operations.

Figure 6 is a schematic outline of the path travelled by the traverse arm.

Figure 7 is an exploded isometric view of the principal machine elements for indexing, feeding, winding, and ejecting the spools.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a bell cam for orientation of and actuation of the material gathering arm.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail section of a terminal portion, at lower right, of the bell cam of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a developed elevational view, showing the configuration of the bell cam, taken on line 10-10-of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view of the winding spindle and material gathering arm.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the spool 1 (Figure 1) has a longitudinal slot 2 that distinguishes it Patented Mar. 19, 1957 ice from conventional spools, the slot extending through a substantial portion of the barrel and the flange 3 at one end, as described in detail in the above mentioned patent. A material gathering arm4 is pivotally mounted at one end on a winding spindle 5, for automatic movement into and out of the slot 2 in the spool. The material gathering arm 4 is operative for gripping the beginning end of the material 6 (thread, wire, etc.) on movement into the slot and secure it during the winding operation. The slot in the spool and the gathering arm cooperating therewith constitute the most basic and important characteristic of the invention. The spindle also has an indexing lug 7 and pin 8 for effecting orientation of the gathering arm in the operation of the machine, as will be brought out in detail later.

Referring now to Figure 2 the basic function and general operation of the machine will be described. In a later portion of the description the detail function operation of the various elements will be described. The machine 20 consists of a hopper 21 into which common spools containing no longitudinal slot are stored for delivery by a suitable and known feeding mechanism 22 to one of the four winding spindles of the machine.

Four winding spindles 5 are mounted on a spindle carriage 23, and the spindle carriage is progressively rotated clockwise (Figure 2) for indexing the spindles in that direction. The spindle at the first station 24 receives a spool from the feeding mechanism 22, the gathering arm 4 being extended outwardly, as in Figure 1, for enabling reception of the spool. The spool may be retained on the spindle in proper position by suitable means, as by friction-fitting thereon. The spindle is locked and its position is controlled by lug '7 and pin 8 shown in Figure 1, as described more fully hereinbelow. The gathering arm 4 is positioned at twelve oclock, in the first station 24.

At the second station 25 the gathering arm 4 is positioned at three oclock by the movement of the lug 7 along the bell cam 119 (Figure 7). A longitudinal slot is now placed in the spool at a three oclock position which is in alignment with the gathering arm 4, by a notching arm 26 that is pivotably mounted on the frame of the machine. When the spindle comes to rest at the second station 25 the notching arm 26 swings down and either by indenting, burning with a heating element, or through combination of both heat and pressure, places a slot in the spool. The notching arm 26 is connected to the mainshaft of the master gear 160 (Figure 7) by miter 120 and spur gearing 121, that motivates a cam 122, that causes movement of the notching arm 26 in synchronization with the machine cycle for generating the groove in the spool and then withdrawal to clear the spindle when the carriage indexes to the next station. The expression bell cam is quite commonly used to designate a cam having its lobes on an end face, i. e., on a face extending generally axially.

At the third station 23 the gathering arm is positioned at six oclock by the movement of the lug 7 along the bell cam 119, and after the spool reaches this position, the gathering arm is moved into the slot by the action of the lug dropping off the bell cam actuated by the coiled compression spring contained between the driving spindle 5 and the lug 7, gathering the material or thread and gripping the beginning end of the thread preparatory to the winding operation said action of the lug dropping off the bell cam unlocks the spindle so that it may freely rotate. In this position of the spool the material 6 is supplied from the large bobbin 29 on top of the machine and wound .on the spool. The material passes through guides 39, 31, and 32, tension being maintained by .a tension roll 33. A material traverse arm 34 directs the'material the spool in which the loose endof the severed material is secured. 7

:At the fourth station 36 the filled spool is ejected by an ejection arm 37 allowing the spool to drop into a chute 38. The'gathering arm 4 on the spindle opens out to the position of Figure 1 when the spool is ejected by the pin 8 and lug 7 ,of Fig. l engaging the bell cam 119 of Fig. 7, thus completingthe cycle.

All parts of the machine are synchronized and power 15 delivered through one main shaft for actuation of the various elements.

The action of feeding spools onto the spindle at station No. l (at 24), the formation of the slot at station 'No. 2 (at 25 and the ejection of the spool at station No. 4 (at 28), are rather elementary movements and may be accomplished in any of a number of different ways, and therefore only the actual gathering and winding of the material on the spool at the third station 28 will be treated in detail. 7

The machine is capable of winding various sizespools of different lengths and diameters with various lengths of material by changing only two cams on the machine and making minor adjustments.

Referring to Figure 7, the synchronization of the machine will now be described. Upon completion of one revolution of the master gear and shaft 100 a spool is wrapped. When four revolutions of the shaft have been completed the spindle carriage 23 will have made one complete revolution. Therefore all timing referred to will be taken from the master gear 10%. The shaft of the master gear 100 is linked by gearing to the various other shafts of the machine to provide them with a single source of 'motivation, and to provide complete synchronization of the machine.

' Whereas 180 of revolution of the master gear is devoted to winding of material upon the spool, 90 of revolution of the master gear is utilized by the Geneva movement 192 for indexing the carriage 23. The remaining 90 for station No. 3 (at 28), is used for gathering, notchin tucking and severing the material. Up to 270 of revolution of the master gear may be'utilized at station N0. '1 (at 2 No. 2 (at 25') and No. 4 (at 36) for feeding the spool, forming the longitudinal slot and ejecting the spool respectively.

The master gear 100 turns clockwise, causing the Geneva driver 102 to turn counterclockwise which in turn causes the Geneva wheel 193 to turn the spindle carriage 23 clockwise. The master gear 100 also drives another identical gear 104 to which is secured an adjustable arm 105 that is connected to a gear segment 106 that is free to pivot on the bearing 107. The teeth 1% on the gear segment engage a gear "train 109. The first gear of the train has a roll lock clutch, i, e. unidirectional clutch (not shown but which may be of known type), that is inserted in its bore 112 which permits this particular gear to turn only in a counter-clockwise direction. The small gears of the train, not shown, are directly in back of the large gears and have the same common shafts.

It will thus be noted that motion .from the gear segment 108 is greatly multiplied and transmitted to the final gear of the train 10?. Connected in driving relation with the gear train at the end thereof, is a rubber-toothed belt 110 directly driven by the timing pulley 111 and supported on an idler pulley 113. The idler pulley is mounted for swinging movement by means of the swivel support 114 that is actuated through an am 116 opera tively-connected to the spindle driveengagement cam 115 rotatable with the master gear 1&0. The belt may be swung into engagement with the gear 117 on the winding spindle and turn it in a counter-clockwise direction. The belt is swung out of the way of the gear 117 when the carriage23 is indexed.

' begins As has beenstated, the winding spindle 5 will turn in a counter-clockwise direction only. It is also apparent that the spindle will turn only during 180 of revolution of the master gear 100. It should also be noted that the number of revolutions the driving spindle 5 will make may be varied by changing the position of the adjustable arm in the slot 118. It -is further apparent that such an arrangement of gearing will permit the winding spindle 5 to start revolving from a dead stop gradually accelerating to maximum speed and then gradually decelerating to a dead stop, thus preventing any sudden shock that might break a light thread that is being wound. The gearing would be arranged so that the slot 1i8'is appropriately positioned at the beginning and end of this movement, as for example in a vertical direction in the illustrated arrangement.

The traverse arm 34 that guides, cuts and gathers the thread is actuated by two box cams; the first cam moves the traverse arm back and forth parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spool, thus allowing the spool to be filleduniformly the second cam 71 swings the traverse .arm to either side of the spool, the arm being pivoted for that purpose (Figure 7). The notching arm 35 is actuated by another box cam 72. The ejector arm 37 is actuated by a 'box cam 73.

The feeding mechanism 22 'is advanced and withdrawn by the action of theQbox cam 74. The spool gripper .is actuated by linkage 76 that is attached to another box cam 77. The end box cam 73 actuates an agitator (not shown) in the hopper 21 (Figure 2). The cams 70 to 74, 77, 78 and the .cam of the notching arm 26 (not shown), are keyed to their respective shafts that in turn are geared to the shaft containing the master gear 1%.

Reference may be had to Figures 3-6 in connection with the following description of the details of thewinding operation. I

Figure 3 shows a spool 1 with the material 6 passing through the guide .32, shown here in detail, and the gathering arm 4 in a 6 oclock position holding the end of the thread. The spool rotates in a counter-clockwise direction and the material is guided in the notch 56 .of the traverse arm 34 as illustrated in Figure 4 which is taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3. At the start of the cycle the traverse arm 34 will be positioned at A Figures 3 and v6 and at 0 Figure 5. The actual path of travel of the traverse arm is shown diagrammatically in Figure 6. The lines in each merely for convenience; the traverse arm reciprocates in a single path represented by the several lines in each group. In this particular illustration five layers of material will be wrapped on the spool. The cams controlling the various movements are shown superimposed in Figure 5, along with the Geneva movement 183, The positions of important lobes of the cams are designated in degrees to simpli-y the relationship between the various elements and avoid confusion. V

The traverse arm 34 guiding the material (Figure 3) to move from position A to position B when the spool begins to turn, wise when actuated by 115 at 0 Figure 5. The traverse arm will have moved to position B (Figures 3 and 6) when its cam 70 has advanced to 48 (Figure 5). The traverse arm will return to position A atan accelerated speed as the spools speed is accelerated, to given speed to arm 34 corresponding to the variable speed given to the spool by the gears 106113, the second traverse being completed at approximately At the spool has reached its maximum acceleration as it again advances toward position B and will start to.

decelerate having reached B position at 108. It will have completed the fourth traverse at 142 and willstart the fifth' and last traverse back to position B completing it at At 177 the notching cam 72 (Figure 5 will start to advance the notching arm 35 from positron G :to position H (Figured), the notch 51 being group in this figure are spaced apart the spool turning counter-clock the spindle drive engagement cam the lobes of the cam. 70 are made cut when the spool has stopped turning and notching arm cam 72 has advanced to 182. 1 As the traverse arm cam 70 passes 180 the traverse arm will move to position C (Figures 3 and 6). The notching cam 72 passing 197 will start to withdraw the notching arm back to position G (Figure 3). The cutting edge 52 f the notching arm is inclined relative to a line touching the edge and parallel to the axis of oscillation of the arm, thus the front portion will remain longer in the spool than the rear portion. h

The traverse arm now rotates toward position D (Figures 3 and 6) as the traverse arm pivot cam 71 passes 200 (Figure 5). The material 6 is thus pulled into the spool notch 51 (Figure 3) and at the same time into the spring clip 54 of the traverse arm (Figure 4). As the traverse arm continues to advance to position (Figures 3 and 6) the material is severed by the cutting notch 55 (Figure 4) and retained by the spring clip 54.

The arm now pauses at position D while the Geneva drive 103 starts to index the spindle carriage at 225; at 270 the spool has now advanced halfway from station No. 3 (at 28, Fig. 7) to station No. 4 (at 36). At the same instant the traverse arm cam (Figure 5) starts to advance the traverse arm 34 to position E (Figures 3 and 6). The thread is slid along the material guide 32 to position A the action being completed as the traverse cam 70 passes 287. The carnage spindle is still indexing and a new spool is being brought around from station No. 2 (at 25 at 315 the driving spindle 5, lug 8, drops off the bell cam 119 directly in back of the spindle carriage 23 (Figure 7). A spring 156 (Figure 11) causes the material gathering arm 4 to close on the spool 1 and grasp the end of the material 6 (Figure 3).

The traverse arm cam 70 (Figure 5) starts the traverse arm 34 to withdraw to position D, the action being completed at 325. The traverse arm pivot cam 71 (Figure 5) at 330 rapidly drops to 331, causing the traverse arm to move back to position C. At 338 the traverse arm cam 70 advances the traverse arm 34 to position A, the action being completed when the traverse arm cam has passed 348. The material 6 (Figure 3) has been collected in the notch 56 of the traverse arm 34 (Figure 4). The spindle drive engagement cam at 0 (Figure 5) will have advanced the belt 110 against the spindle driving gear 117 as the gear train 109 and timing belt pulley 111 start to turn again (Figure 7). The spool will thus again turn counter-clockwise forcing the material up into the smaller portion 57 of the notch 56 (Figure 4) thus allowing the material to be guided uniformly along the spool. V

Referring now to Figure 8-11, the orientation and activation of the gathering arm 4 (see also Figure l) by the bell cam (see also Figure 7) will be treated in detail.

The circular bell cam 119 (Figure 9) contains a stepped groove in which the pin 8 and lug 7 of the winding spindle 5 ride (Figure 11). The lug has a close fit within the groove and the stepped portion .141 has a curved surface 142 with a radius of curvature equal to the radius of the side 143 of the groove against which it bears (Figure 9). The constant engagement between the lug and side of the groove, after entrance of the lug into the groove, prevents rotation of the spindle relative to the side .of the groove, but due to the revolution of the spindle carrier, the spindle rotates on its axis in its travel around the bell cam. The pin 8 assists entrance of the lug into the groove and prevents possible jamming regardless of what the position of the lug is in relationship to the groove. This is accomplished by the pin first striking the spring loaded latch 144 as the spindle is carried on the spindle carriage 23 (Figure 2) toward the cam. The latch rides back until it reaches the stop pin 145 (Figure 9) and the pin 8 then rides along the face 146 of the latch whose configuration is such as to cause the pin to turn the spindle so that the edge of the portion 147 of the lug is properly oriented to strike the curved portion 148 of the side of the groove, allowing entrance of the lug into the groove. After the lug has entered the groove, the latch is returned to its normal position by the spring 150.

The shoulder 151 of the lug, upon entrance into the groove, bears against a lobe 152 (Figures 8 and 10) of the bell cam when the spindle is indexed to the first station 24 (Figure 7). This causes the shaft 5' of the winding spindle 5 (Figure 11) containing the rack 153 that is meshed with the gear segment 154 of the gathering arm 4, to move forward retracting the gathering arm so that it extends outwardly and allows insertion of the spool onto the arbor 9 at the first station and formation of the groove in the spool at the second station. A pin 157 in element 157' slides in a slot 158 in the shaft 5' and prevents rotation of the latter within the spindle. At the third station the shoulder of the lug drops off the end 155 of the bell cam (Figure 10), the coiled spring 156 causing the gathering arm to close collecting the thread and freeing the spindle for rotation during the winding cycle.

Changes may be made in the structure of the machine to facilitate winding of spools that might not be constructed of wood, such as wire wound electrical coils; thus the slot might have to be pre-formed and the spool fed onto the spindle with the slot aligned with the gathering arm. These deviations naturally do not depart from the principle of gathering the material with a gathering arm in conjunction with a spool, bobbin or core that allows the successive coils and layers of coils to be wound about it, by nature of the longitudinal slot, and then to be ejected oi the end of the spindle, as defined in the following claims.

I claim: 7

1. An automatic winding machine of the character disclosed, comprising a rotatable winding spindle adapted for receiving a spool having a longitudinal slot in its outer surface, a gathering arm pivoted on the spindle for swinging movement into and out of an axial position and thereby into and out of the slot when the spool is on the spindle and gripping the end of a thread therein,

. means for rotating the spindle with a spool thereon and with the gathering arm in said axial position, means for guiding thread wound on the spool, and driving means for operating the above means.

2. An automatic winding machine, comprising a winding spindle adapted for receiving a spool having a longitudinal slot in its outer surface, means mounted on and carried by said spindle for insertion into and removal from the slot and gripping a thread wound on the spindle, and driving means for operating the above means.

3. The method of winding a single continuous thread on a spool, comprising providing a longitudinal groove in the outer surface of the spool, gripping the beginning end of the thread by means inserted in the groove, rotating the spool relative to the thread with the gripping means in the groove while yieldingly restraining the thread against the pulling action of the spool in the rotation thereof, continuing rotation of the spool and forming outer turns over and gripping the beginning end, and removing the gripping means from the groove.

4. An automatic winding machine, comprising a carrier having a rotatable spindle thereon and movable for carrying the spindle to a plurality of stations successively, means for placing a spool on the spindle at a first station, means for forming a longitudinal slot in the outer surface of the spool in a second station, means movable into the slot after formation thereof and gripping the end of a thread therein, means for rotating the spool and winding the thread thereon in a third station, means for ejecting the spool from the spindle in a fourth station, and driving means for actuating the above operating means and members.

5. An automatic winding machine for use with a spool having a longitudinal slot of predetermined depth in its outer surface and opening through one end thereof, comprising a rotatable-spindlefor receiving "the spool, a

gathering armcarried by the spindle movable ,into and out ofthe slot andthaving such transverse dimensions as to be Within the outer surface of the spool when in the slot, means for guiding and releasably holding a thread having an end gripped in the slot by the gathering arm, means for rotating the spindle, and driving means for operating the above means.

6. An automatic winding machine comprising a rotatable spindle for receiving a spool, means carried by said spindle for gripping a thread on the spool, means for guiding thread to the spool, a traverse arm mounted for reciprocation longitudinally along one side of the spool and having a notch for receiving the thread, means for notching the spool, means for .moving said traverse arm from said one'side of the spool to .theother and the arm in such movement drawing the'thread into the notch and havingmean's for gripping the thread and means for cuttingthe threadbetween the gripping means and notch, means for moving the traverse arm longitudinally alongthe-spool on said opposite side tor-positioning the thread gripped thereby for engagement by the gripping rnjeans, and driving means for o'perating the above =means. 7. Anautornaticzwindihg machine comprising a rotatable spindle'for receiving a sp'ool, means for forming a V longitudinal, groove in the spool opening through one end thereof, a gathering arm carried by the spindle movablerinto the groove and gripping a'thread therein, means for guiding thread to the spool, a traverse arm mounted for reciprocation"longitudinally along one side of the spool and having a notch for receiving the thread, means for moving said traverse arm from said one side of the spool-to the other and the arm in such movement drawing't-he threadiiito the notch and having means for grip- 1 ping-thethread and means for cutting the thread between the- 'g-ripping means and notch, means for moving the traverse arm longitudinally along the spool on said oppositepsidejor positioning the thread gripped thereby for engagement byv the first gripping means, and driving nieanszfor operating the above means. Anautornat-ic Winding machine comprising a rotatable spindle for receiving a spool, means carried by the spindle forgrippin'g a' thread on the spool, means for guiding thread to. the spool, a traverse arm mounted for, reciprocation longitudinally along one side of the spool and having a notch for receiving the thread, means for notching the spool, means for moving 'saidtraverse arm from said one'side of the spool :to the other and the arm in such movement drawing'the thread into the notch and having means for gripping the thread and means for cutting the thread between'the gripping means and notch, means for moving'the traverse arm longitudinally along the spool on said opposite side 'for positioning the. thread gripped thereby for engagement by the first gripping means, and driving means for .operating the above means. I

9. An automatic winding machine comprising a .rotata'ble spindle carrier having a plurality of circumferentially'spaced spindles rotatably mounted thereon, cam means forindexingthe spindles relative to-the carrier-in response to rotation of' the carrier, each spindle being adapted for reception of-a spool having a longitudinal groove opening'through one end thereof, a gathering arm pivotally mounted on each spindle movable into and out of the groove in the, respective spool, means for placing aspoolson a'spindle at a first station, means for guiding th zead to'the spool jatf a subsequent-station and yieldingly resisting movement of the thread to the spool, 21 traverse :arm ifor-grippjin'gthe thread at said subsequent station atjalfirst; side..,of-' the spool andrpositioning it across the spool-tor gripping by the gathering arm in the latters movement into the slot at that station, means moving the traversearm tothe opposite side of the spool after the gripping step for engaging the gripped thread and guiding-it longitudinally in 'a reciprocating motion along the spool'i'n the rotation of the spool, means for notching theispoohsaid traverse arm "having means for gripping the. thread :and .drawing the thread into the notch .andcutting the thread between the gripped posi-.

tion and the notch in movement to said first side of the. spool forpositioning the thread for gripping by the,

gathering'arm of a successive spool, means for ejecting the spool at a final station,l and driving'means for operating'the' above means. a L Y 10. The method of winding a'single continuous threa'd on a spool, comprising providing a groove .in- .the'spo ol. opening through one end thereof and a notch in the spool, gripping the thread in the groove by means con. tained within ,the circumferentialprojection of the spool, winding the'threadpnd forming outer turns, over and gripping the beginning e'nd,'tucking the terminal end of the threadi th'e notch', cutting the thread outwardly beyond then'ot ch, and Withdrawing the'gripping means longitudinallly ifriorn the groove.

11. The method rof ivinding thread on a spool, comprising gripping jhe threadon the spool by means external to the; spool, winding the thread on th'e spool over the gripping lrie'ans, securing the terminal end of ;the threadon the. spool, cutting the thread and removing the gripping means'from'the spool. P I

nere eiiges Cited in the tile ofjthis an ff unrrnojsrarns;.PArn vrs I 497,476 Mone ;s -Ma 16, 1893 1,577,671 j Ashmead s Mar. .23, 1926. 

